Experimental and modeling study of acetone combustion

The pyrolysis and oxidation of acetone were studied using three complementary experimental setups. Jet-stirred reactor experiments were performed at four equivalence ratios (ϕ = 0.5, 1, 2, and ∞), at pressure of 1.067 bar (800 Torr) and over the temperature range of 700–1200 K for pyrolysis and 600–1150 K for oxidation. The decomposition of acetone starts around 800 K with a conversion rate of 50% obtained around 1000 K in both pyrolysis and oxidation studies. The main stable products detected in both conditions are small hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, and ethylene), with also acetaldehyde, CO and CO2 for oxidation. Oscillation behavior was detected beyond 1000 K under oxidation conditions and the products were followed with on-line mass spectrometry. Ignition delay times were measured using a rapid compression machine at pressures of 20 and 40 bar under non-diluted stoichiometric conditions over the temperature range 850–1100 K. The ignition delay times measured in the present study, combined with shock tube data of literature, exhibit a slight inflexion to the Arrhenius behavior, but no negative temperature coefficient. Laminar burning velocities were measured using a flat flame burner at atmospheric pressure for three fresh gas temperatures: ambient temperature, 358 and 398 K. A detailed kinetic model of the combustion of acetone including 852 species and 3265 reactions was developed. This new kinetic mechanism predicts relatively well the experimental measurements of ignition delay times, the mole fraction of the products in the jet-stirred reactor including oscillations and laminar burning velocities. Related flow rate and sensitivity analysis are also presented providing new insights into the acetone reaction network.